Bill Clinton to Pennsylvania Democrats: Turn out to vote for Tom Wolf

James O'TooleOf the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

See what Bill Clinton has to say about Tom Wolf.

PITTSBURGH — Former President Bill Clinton warned Democrats against complacency Monday as he urged a South Side crowd to make sure that their neighbors turn out next week to vote for Tom Wolf in his bid to unseat Gov. Tom Corbett.

"You have in some ways the best candidate for governor in America,'' Clinton said after a brief introduction that the low-key Wolf acknowledged with a smile, "You didn't come here to see me."

Clinton denounced "partisanship and blood lust and negative campaigning that has nothing to do with where we are and where we should be going.''

But he told a crowd of roughly 1,000 that Democrats are partially to blame for the climate and policies they deplore.

"A different America shows up when we vote for president and when we vote in midterm elections," Clinton said, pointing to the fact that groups including young voters and minorities are underrepresented in the mid-term electorate compared with the turnout in years when the president is on the ballot.

In his 15-minute speech, Clinton lauded Wolf for returning to his home town after finishing his Ph.D. at MIT. He also praised the Wolf proposal to impose a new severance tax on natural gas.

Referring to his own experience as a governor of a natural gas-producing state —Arkansas — Clinton argued it makes sense to take revenue from a depleting resource and put it into education, a resource he said would keep on giving to the community.

Clinton took a moment to praise the late Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff.

"I loved her and she served you well," he said.

Clinton joined a parade of high-profile Democrats prodding turnout in a race in which Wolf has enjoyed a consistent polling lead. First lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made separate appearances for the Wolf campaign earlier this month in Philadelphia. President Barack Obama plans to add his weight to the turnout push in yet another Philadelphia rally Sunday.

While the South Side crowd awaited the Democratic icon, Corbett was making the case for his re-election in an appearance before the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg.

Among those preceding Clinton on the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers stage were U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Nancy Mills, chairwoman of the Allegheny County Democratic Party.